Rising House star or big headache?

Depending on whom you ask, Georgia’s Tom Graves is either a rising star in the House GOP conference or a perfect example of Speaker John Boehner’s management problems.

The Capitol Hill newcomer has voted against nearly every major government funding measure put forward by the House leadership this year and unapologetically advocated the Republican Study Committee line, even when it contradicted the efforts of Boehner and the leadership — a position that caused Graves to part ways with the GOP whip team earlier this year.

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When Graves again voted against a short-term government spending bill last month, some members of the House GOP decided that leadership needed to punish one of their mutinous colleagues — the 20 or so who vote against leadership on almost every spending bill — to show that there would be consequences for refusing to back efforts to avert a government shutdown. Graves, one of the few newcomers with a prime spot on the Appropriations Committee, became the target. Rumors ricocheted around the lower chamber that he would be stripped of his committee assignment.

The Republican Steering Committee, which decides committee appointments, met last week and considered whether to retaliate against Graves and others who oppose the leadership. The decision was made not to do so, said multiple sources, but there will be quieter, more subtle forms of pressure exerted. Graves is not likely to be part of any congressional overseas trips anytime soon.

He also could face troubles back home: Former Congressman and perennial presidential hopeful Bob Barr is considering a primary challenge to Graves, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Monday.

Graves, for his part, is unrepentant.

“There’s always rumors and rumblings of the things going on,” the rangy, dark-eyed congressman said. “As I told them, I’m going to vote my conscience and my constituents, not make decisions based on political positions. Who knows what will happen?”

Graves’s rationale comes straight from the tea party playbook: “I didn’t get elected to come to Washington for a group hug. I did it to fight for America’s future. That’s why I push so hard.”

In his short time on Capitol Hill, the former George state legislator has earned a reputation for pushing hard — too hard for some. As the debt ceiling negotiations dragged on throughout the summer, Graves repeatedly appeared on cable news shows and in conservative media to discuss his opposition to just about everything — including the Boehner debt proposal — except for the RSC’s Cut, Cap and Balance bill.

Graves left the Republican whip team earlier this year after what he called “polling” — though others called “whipping” — the RSC line rather than the GOP leadership’s position.

“I was given the choice; do I want to be committed to the leadership’s whip team or be a strong player and advocate in the RSC, and I chose the RSC,” he said.